What's $85K Between Friends?

In Case You Were Wondering ...... how much it cost to outrun this fall's Democratic landslide, we give you the
example of state Attorney General Tom Corbett --who was seemingly one of the few members of the embattled GOP to hang onto his day job.

But the cost to secure a second term was pretty dear.

Corbett finished Campaign 2008 $85,000 in the hole, according to a campaign finance report filed with the Department of State on Dec. 4. The holder of the note: Pittsburgh GOP media consultant Brabender Cox.

In the last month of the campaign, Corbett raised $748,941 and spent $1.9 million of the $2 million he had available to him, leaving him with a balance of $77,087. Corbett also reported in-kind donations worth $21,776 -- that's when a good or service, but not cash, changes hands.

Luckily for Corbett, he still has until at least February to get his campaign back up to the magical $1 million mark that will denote him as a gubernatorial candidate of seriousness.

Democrat John Morganelli, meanwhile, ended his third campaign for the AG's office in the red to the tune of about $15,000 (which he owes to the state Democratic Party).

In the final days of the campaign, the Northampton County DA raised $205,189, spent $1.15 million of the $1.2 million he had available to him, and ended with a balance of $52,242, records showed.

Morganelli has said he probably won't make a fourth try for AG. But we assume that his cash balance will probably make a sound foundation for a judicial run in 2009 if he decides to make it.

Current Comments

Brabender has always been willing to go to the mattresses for his clients. This type of thing happened repeatedly with Santorum.

What people don't know is that, while he looks like a good guy to his well-heeled clients, a lot of printers, freelance production people, editing facilites and others are still waiting for their checks. So, Brabender can still spend freely and Corbett is still in office...but the people who actually did the work are left holding the bag. It's a sweet business, ain't it?